Improvement in stereoscopic picture-cases



J. FLETCH WOODWARD.

Improvement in Streo scopiqPicture Case'sf.

No. 120,224. PatentedOct. 24,1871.

10 227165565 fie 0622 (Br UNITED STATES I. FLETOH WOODWARD, OF MGMINNVILLE, TENNESSEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEREOSCOPIC PICTURE-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,224, dated October 24, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I. FLETCH WOODWARD, of the town of McMinnville, in the county of WVarren and the State of Tennessee, have invented a Stereoscopic Album for Holding and Exhibiting Stereoscopic Pictures.

The first part of my invention consists in making an album the leaves of which are made similar to an ordinary card-album, but sufficiently large and stout as to receive two stereoscopic cards placed back to back so as to expose the photographic pictures that are on them to each side of the leaves. The second part of my invention consists in an adjustable folding eyepiece that contains the stereoscopic cases, and a thin slider that slides into a socket in the lids of the album, giving an adjustable focus.

Figure l is a view of the album open near its center, showing the relation its leaves A A bears to the lids O (J and the adjustable folding eyepiece B B, which is raised ready for viewing the pictures.

A are the leaves of the album, that are made similar to the leaves of the ordinary card-albums, but sufficiently stout to receive and retain two ordinary stereoscopic cards placed back to back, and having its openings suflicieutly large to expose the picture surface of the cards to view. B is the adjustable folding eye-piece, made of any convenient substance, and made to resemble the front edge of an album in its lower part. The upper half, that folds for the purpose of closing the lids and to adapt the lens to the height of the picture, is secured to the lower part by a hinge or any convenient way. Sometimes I only match it to the main piece by a slide that allows it to be raised or lowered in the main piece, thus economizing space, as the thickness is not so great 5 and sometimes I place a spring under the piece that has the lens attached, which enables it to open or close as the lid of the album does; all of which does not materially alter my adjustable eye-piece. At the under side of the main piece B, at G, I have a thin slider that connects and retains it to the lids of the album by a socket, D, which allows it to slide back and forth, givin g an adjustable focus. Therefore, it follows that when the pictures are to be viewed the lid that does not contain the eye-piece is first raised, then the eye-piece is drawn back and raised, and then can be moved backward and forward until the suitable focus is obtained then, by turning up the leaves of the album one by one, can be viewed stereoscopically; then, by withdrawing the eye-piece and inserting it into the other lid, the pictures on the other side of the leaves are viewed.

I do not confine my leaves to a certain number of openings; nor is it necessary to have stereoscopic openings on both sides; but one side may be devoted to common card-openings.

I claim- The constructing of an album, its leaves A A being capable of receiving, retaining, and exhibiting stereoscopic pictures on both sides, along with the adjustable folding eye-piece B B, that contains the lenses, being easily removed or replaced or attached to either lid by a slider, O, that slides into a socket in the lids at D, giving it a perfect adjustable focus, substantially in the manner described, and for the purpose set forth.

I. FLETGH WOODWARD.

Witnesses W. O. WOMAOK, 

